How to defeat the man flu

Share

How to defeat the man flu

As I write this, I might just be coming down with a bout of “man flu”. I’ve got a headache. Congested sinuses. Itchy eyes. A growing need to complain and seek out validation for the fact that I’m sick and that I should go home and get into bed…

Not to get all high school essay on you but the Macquarie Dictionary defines the man flu as:

man flu

/ˈmæn flu/ (say ‘man flooh)

noun Colloquial (humorous) a minor cold contracted by a man who proceeds to exaggerate the symptoms enormously.

If you’ve ever experienced the man flu, you may think that there’s nothing minor about it. Some studies have suggested that testosterone weakens the immune systems of men, while oestrogen in women may have anti-viral qualities.

Whether or not you believe that man flu is the end of the world or a complete overreaction, here are some tips for beating it.

Eat well

Beating the flu takes more than just sucking down a bunch of orange juice. While your parents may have extolled the benefits of OJ for its vitamin C-rich contents, studies have found that vitamin C only has modest preventative effects on colds and flus.

However, where vitamin C has been found to be effective is in improving our immune function, meaning that it can reduce the duration of colds and flus.

More important than just vitamin C are your vitamin levels as a whole. Making sure you eat a balanced diet full of all the right nutrients is far more important than dosing yourself with vitamins when you do get sick.

To check your vitamin levels, you might want to head to your local GP, who can perform a simple blood test and let you know what your levels are like.

If you don’t feel like going to the doctor or you just don’t like blood tests, there are tools like the VitaStiq, which allow you to check your vitamin and mineral levels at home using electro-acupuncture.

Australian Influenza Statistics

NSW Health has recorded almost 60,000 flu cases this year which is an all-time high and almost twice as many as the 35,538 cases diagnosed in 2016.

Get a flu shot

One of the best ways to avoid getting sick is by getting a flu shot. These shots take roughly two weeks to kick in after they’re administered and you only need to get one once a year.

Stay Connected

Insurance is arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd (ABN 61 003 617 909, AFSL 241 411) trading as Budget Direct on behalf of the product insurers, whose details appear on the product pages and in the PDS. Because we don’t know your financial needs, we can’t advise if this insurance will suit you. You should consider your needs and read the PDS before making a decision to buy insurance. Our Website Terms of Use apply to your use of this website. This Website may contain links to other websites operated by third parties. We do not recommend or endorse those other websites or products and services provided on those sites. We are not responsible for the condition or content of those websites as we do not have control over those websites. We make no representations about the accuracy of any information contained on any other websites. We are not responsible for any Loss arising directly or indirectly from you using, accessing or attempting to access those websites.